Map | The Plains | Engie

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Project infrastructure

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Infrastructure

Internal roads

Site access points

Wind monitoring locations

Solar farm

Project EnergyConnect

Ancillary infrastructure

Electrical reticulation footprint

Development

The Plains Renewable Energy Park development is expected to include:

Up to 188 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 1,500 MW
Approximately 900,900 solar panels with a project size of up to 400 MW
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of up to 400 MW / 1.6 GWh
More than 4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided per annum through the use of renewable energy resources
Maximum potential project footprint of 1,758 hectares.

The proposed project is located on Mungadal Station which comprises of 116,994 hectares of land. The area consists of mostly native saltbush plains, currently used for sheep grazing.

Recent engagement with neighbours of the proposed project has identified opportunities for surrounding landowners to also host project infrastructure.

Changes to the project

Following feedback from the community and other key stakeholders, a number of design layout changes have been made to the Project. These changes include the removal of 23 turbines and the relocation of 11 turbines to avoid potential impacts to local biodiversity.

In addition, the proposed location of the solar infrastructure has moved from the north-west to be better positioned in the south-west of the project area and includes the following key benefits:

Avoids all Plains Wanderer Critically Important Habitat as well as Curly Windmill grass and Forb Rich Speargrass
Maintaining electrical efficiency as the new location is in close proximity to the main substation, connecting into Project EnergyConnect (west of Cobb Highway)
Reduced visual amenity of solar farm from Cobb Highway.
Initial assessments have found the new location to be in a shallow flood area
Project benefits shared across two host landowners for the solar farm (increase from one landowner) with a total of seven landowners now involved in hosting either wind turbines or solar farm infrastructure

Land and dwellings

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Dwellings

Landscape report buffer zones

The proposed project area is characterised by vast open paddocks and agricultural landscape with a flat topography with minor undulations, generally used for livestock grazing. Small patches of vegetation and tree lines maintain connectivity to surrounding lands. Scattered patches of belah trees are spread across the paddocks and along roadsides. Canopy cover is generally associated with creek corridors or floodplains that are located on the northern and southern sides of the Project.

There are no dwellings identified within four kilometres of the Project and its infrastructure. 16 Mile Gums Rest Area is located within five kilometres of the Project and has been identified as a key public viewpoint through Community Consultation.

Environment

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Bushfire-prone land mapping

A review of the NSW RFS Bushfire Prone Land mapping confirms that the project area is not currently recognised as being bushfire prone. However, it is recognised that category 3 vegetation (including grasslands and freshwater wetlands) will likely be added to the bushfire prone land mapping at some stage to align with the requirements of the NSW RFS Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping.

ENGIE will engage industry experts to undertake a Bushfire Risk Assessment to help identify potential hazards and risks associated with bushfires and use of potential bushfire prone land. The assessment will aim to demonstrate that the proposed project can be designed, constructed and operated to minimise ignition risks and provide for asset protection consistent with the NSW Rural Fire Service Guidelines - Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019.

Mitigation strategies will be guided by a number of factors that contribute to bushfire risk including weather, topography and bushfire history, to provide the best possible protection outcome for the energy park, land managers and the community.

Biodiversity

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Plains Wanderer EPBC critical habitat mapping

Plains Wanderer preferred habitat mapping

Threatened Flora found on Site (500m buffer applied)

Bird Nest Buffers found on site (500m buffer applied)

The proposed project is located on Mungadal Station which comprises of 116,994 hectares of land, with a maximum potential project footprint of 1,758 hectares. The area consists of mostly native saltbush plains, currently used for sheep grazing.

The most dominant vegetation across the proposed site is Cotton Bush open shrubland, followed by Dillon Bush shrubland. Ecologists have identified threatened flora and bird nests at the project site. As a result, a 500m buffer has been placed around the identified areas to ensure the threatened flora and bird nests are avoided in the project design of roads and turbine locations.

Plains Wanderer

The Plains-Wanderer bird is considered critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and is listed as endangered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. In 2015 it was estimated there are between 250 and 1,000 of the small ground-dwelling grassland birds left in the wild.

A survey in spring 2021 with nocturnal spotlighting was undertaken from a slow-moving vehicle for two nights. Sightings of two adult Plains-Wanderers and one offspring were recorded.

Forb Rich Speargrass and Curly Windmill Grass are considered as the preferred vegetation types for the Plains Wanderer bird species. The team has undertaken detailed design workshops to ensure the project infrastructure avoids the critical habitat and preferred habitats for the Plains Wanderer.

The map shows Plains Wanderer Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) mapping of critically important habitat for the Plains Wanderer.

Cultural heritage

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Potential archaeological deposit (PAD)

Artefact

Hearth

Earth mound

Modified tree

The Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) records Aboriginal sites in NSW of which 143 sites were identified within or in close proximity to the Project area 34 sites are identified to be within the project boundary.

The AHIMS database identified 17 artefacts, six artefact / hearths, two earth mounds and eight modified trees.

An extensive site visit is taking place with Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) from Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and will be completed for submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Preliminary assessment has shown there are no historic heritage items within the Project area listed on National, State or Local statutory heritage registers. However, there remains the potential for historic heritage items to be present in the Project Area considering the continuous European presence since the early 19th century. Further assessment is required to better establish the non-Aboriginal archaeological potential of the Project Area.

Land and Soil

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Class 3: Moderate limitations

Class 4: Moderate to severe limitations

Class 5: Severe limitations

Class 6: Very severe limitations

Class 7: Extremely severe limitations

Land and Soil Capability (LSC) mapping is an assessment of key soil and landscape limitations in NSW. Class 1 represents land capable of sustaining most landuses including high impact, while class 8 represents land that can only sustain low impact landuses.

The proposed project area consists of predominately class 5 land with class 4 and 6 representing a small section of the project area.

Visual impacts

In early 2023, ENGIE team members accompanied MOIR Landscape and Architecture to conduct visual assessments from key public viewpoints and residences within ten kilometres of the proposed project. The consultants have provided a visual representation of the project in the form of a photomontage, from key public viewpoints including the Shear Outback Café and 16 Mile Gums Rest Area.

These photomontages have been generated using digital photographs with ‘wireframes’ and 3D rendered modelling to depict the expected view of the project once operational.